Commentary

Remove murder stats

I believe that the daily highlight of the murder stats is a bad idea, and I, along with other people with whom I have spoken, find it is disgusting and serves no purpose other than to influence the situation in a bad way.

This is giving the criminals an incentive to try and compete to expand the figures. Please, for our sanity stop highlighting these figures. It's not that we are ignoring the situation, but the constant reminder is very stressful.

A number of us have stopped watching prime time newscasts because of crime, and we are prepared to stop purchasing the Gleaner too. I just cannot take this stress anymore.

- M. Henry

GG's pickle

I am not a prophet but in a letter to you in January 2009 I foretold of the spiritual pickle that Sir Patrick Allen had put himself in when he accepted the post of governor general of Jamaica. I had pointed out that as a devout Seventh-day Adventist, his Christian principles would conflict with some of his duties as governor general. It was pointed that in practice, he would be required to assent by signing into law any bill that is sent to him by the Government of the day.

Assuming that Sir Patrick's Christian principles have not buckled, morphed or changed over time, and that as a practising Adventist he continues to uphold the discouragement of gambling, then the presentation of the gambling bill to him for his signature into law puts him in spiritual conflict. There is a conflict between the practical requirement of his job as governor general and his Christian beliefs and that of the Adventist Church.

As a Christian, Sir Patrick well knows that he cannot serve God and man at the same time (Matt 6:24). Which one will he choose is the big question?

- Concerned Adventist

Kingston